In Today's News

I am a progressive Roman Catholic noticing that conservatives and traditionalists Catholics take most of the Catholic space on the web. I decided to start blogging to advance "progressive" Catholic views. I can be reached by email at jcecil3@verizon.net

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

YES! WE! CAN!!!!

Last night was an amazing night.

I am a white American citizen born in the U.S.A.

I looked it up on the CIA fact book today. We whites still seem to be about 79.96% of the American population - which was supposed to make the election of Barack Obama unlikely, given a history of racism in this country.

My wife is from Tanzania, East Africa. She had permanent residency before we met, but hasn't become a citizen. She can't vote. She's black.

My wife has never been very political. Still, I thought this election was going to get her energized, with Hillary or Barack as positive choices, and the party of Bush as the opposition providing a pretty negative alternative.

I thought this cycle might even motivate her to get her citizenship papers done in time to vote.

My sister-in-law is also staying with us these days. She's not very political either. Or, to the extent my sister-in-law expresses rare political opinions, they are far left radical ideas that make Obama look like a conservative Republican. She can't vote either.

Well, my wife had been basically playing it cool during this whole election,...,acting almost like she didn't really care if Obama won,...,saying she didn't agree with everything he says,....

Don't get me wrong. She did express some joy when he won the primary, but the joy was tempered and there was always some sort of nuance or caveat I seemed to be missing.

Last night, she was glued to the TV. When they called Ohio, I cheered, and said, "That's it. It's over. McCain can't win." But My wife just sat there nervously fretting asking how I could be so sure he won. My sister-in-law was in her room with the door closed.

I tried to show my wife an interactive electoral map online to explain why McCain can't win without either PA or OH, but she wasn't really listening. She just kept expressing this sort of nervous dread - which I found strange, because I thought she didn't care all that much.

When Obama finally hit the 270 mark, my sister-in-law bolted out of her room and my wife and her simultaneously started screaming and crying and hugging one another while jumping up and down. They sobbed for what must have been 30 minutes, just saying over and over, "I don't believe it. Anything's possible."

We called my brother-in-law. Earlier this year, he told me Obama is just another politician, and he doesn't back Obama. He lambasted Obama's support for Israel. He said Obama would make no difference to him or his life. Well, that's not what he said when we called. The first words out of his mouth were, "I don't believe it. Anything's possible. I mean ANYTHING. I really mean ANYTHING."

He went on for a few minutes just babbling about what he meant by "anything". He predicted crime rates will drop this very night, the peace process in the middle east will unfold as a reality, etc....ANYTHING is possible.

My wife said that she is finally motivated to become a citizen. Her vote will count! Anything is possible.

I live with these people. They are my family, and I sometimes forget about race when I'm with them. But last night, I felt so fortunate to have witnessed this events with family who is black. I understand now that all the ways they were 'dissing' Obama was a protection mechanism - a way of preparing for what they thought was going to be inevitable loss. And last night - that amazing night - we all saw - in this unlikely story that is America, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

Peace and blessings to all who wander through here.
I am a practicing Roman Catholic who enjoys discussing and debating theological issues with Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
My experience in surfing the web on topics of Catholicism is that most sites lean toward the conservative side of the Church. One would get the impression that Catholic liberals or progressives do not exist.

So, I have turned to "blogging" where I can become a voice in the wilderness crying out as the loyal opposition from within Catholicism for progressive change in the Church, while defending her from outer attack from the atheists, fundamentalists and whoever else has an axe to grind.

I wanted to create a space for progressive Catholicism on the web, where fellow progressives can feel their views are heard and shared.

Let me say up front, that if I depart from the "official line" of the Vatican here, I will say so. I will try to explain why I withhold assent from a teaching and point to the Catechism or other authoritive texts where you can read the Church's official answers and judge for yourself whether my questions are valid. I make no claim of personal infallibility, and I very well can be in error. That said, I see no reason why the questions of progressive Catholics should not be given serious attention.

A little about myself: I am an ex-seminarian for Catholic priesthood and completed 72 graduate credits towards the M.Div., with a dual MA concentrating in systematic theology. I never got around to completing the comps and thesis for the MA. I was in formation in a religious order (Franciscans) for almost six years before discerning that celibacy was not my calling. I still feel the desire to serve the Church as a priest, but make absolutely no claim to be an official voice of the entire Roman Catholic Church.

Since leaving the seminary, I have married and I work in a secular corporation in a job that actually provides a service associated with one of the corporal works of mercy. I don't want to be too specific lest I violate some corporate policy. I am an operations manager. I hope to someday do work in a developing nation as a lay missionary or Peace Corps type of volunteer.

My Catholicism expresses itself in my faithfulness to marriage and through frequent Mass attendance (almost daily), frequent recitation of the Rosary, and daily recitation of Morning and Evening prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours (also known as the Divine Office). I use the Sacrament of Reconciliation about once a month on average. I am a lector and member of my parish choir. I also currently volunteer about four hours per week to teaching English as a second language in a diocesan program of ministry to non-native immigrant Americans. I have taught CCD (now called PSR in most places) and two adult education classes on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I do not practice contraception, I am pro-life, and as a sign of compassion and an act of penance, I am a vegetarian (whom Saint Paul called weak).

I don't write any of this to boast except in the Lord, as Saint Paul does in 2 Cor 11: 22-32. Only by the grace of Jesus Christ is any good at all done in me, and I still have much sinfullness and confusion to overcome. Nevertheless, in often taking stances that seem opposed by the Vatican, many of my fellow Roman Catholics will question my right to call myself Catholic. If faith is expressed in works as much or more than what is said on the lips, my deeds demonstrate my loyalty to the Church! And may the Mother of God intercede for me if I am in grave and substantial error.

I define myself as a Roman Catholic because I have received the sacraments of initiation, continue to participate in the sacramental life of the Church.

I accept the following beliefs as my own and can explain them:
The kerygma, "Christ has died, Christ IS risen, and Christ will come again",
the Apostles' Creed,
the Nicene Creed,
the divine inspiration of Sacred Scripture,
the Holy Spirit's guidance in the transmission and development of Sacred Tradition,
the seven sacraments,
the validity of infant baptism,
the validity of baptism in the Trinitarian formula by either sprinkling or immersion,
the doctrine of transubstantiation, or real presence in the Eucharist,
the doctrine that we are saved by grace through faith expressed in works,
the doctrine of original sin - that I NEED God's grace in my life to be saved,
the doctrine of purgatory,
the doctrine that we may ask the prayers of deceased saints on our behalf,
the two great commandments to love God above all and our neighbor as our self,
the golden rule, to do unto others as you would have them do to you,
the ten commandments,
the beatitudes,
the value of human life, including the unborn,
the value of chastity and temperance (I'm actually a boring prude in some ways),
the precepts of the Church,
the theological and cardinal virtues,
the Ecumenical Councils,
the infallibility of the Pope when speaking ex cathedra,
the doctrines of the Immaculate Conception of Mary and her Assumption,
the value of the vocation of celibacy to the Church,
the idea that the fullness of truth subsist in the Catholic Church,
and the importance of family.

Yet, I believe that doctrine develops according to Dei Verbum 8, and that such development can justify beliefs considered "controversial" by many Catholics.

The more controversial beliefs I hold are as follows: I believe that God can be called Mother as well as Father, and
that inclusive language in reference to the people of God should be used in liturgy,
that women could be ordained ministerial priest, and perhaps should be ordained (The Pope has clearly said no to this one),
that married men should be ordained,
that even with original sin, we image the divine and we are inherently capable of some good,
that the ancient rite of adelphopoiesis could be restored as a union for homosexual Catholics,
that divorced and remarried Catholics can participate in the life of the Church,
that artificial contraception in marriage is morally equivalent to natural family planning,
that ecumenical dialogue is essential to contemporary Catholicism and we can learn from non-Catholics,
that social justice is part and parcel of the gospel,
that salvation is integral for the whole human person (involving liberation),
that there is room for democratic forms of Church governance,
that Catholics should be committed to conserving the environment,
that Catholics can conscientiously object to all war on principle, and
that Catholics should be opposed to the death penalty in the modern world.

- Any psychological assessment of a commenter, of any type, even if done by a trained professional, is not acceptable here on this site, because right or wrong, the host does not believe psychology is well practiced in cyberspace at this point in his life,

- I do recognize intellectual bullying tactics and do not want to see it here,

- Name calling is not acceptable,

- Meanness is unacceptable behavior,

- Anything I deem hurtful will be considered inappropriate,

- Stick to the topic of the post you are commenting upon,

- Do not dredge up ancient history with others you have encountered in the past, whether in cyberspace, or in real life, or any other venue,

- Be as nice as you possibly can muster even to a mean host who you are simply not permitted under any circumstances whatsoever to say is mean no matter what you think of him,

- Do not nitpick with anyone over things like spelling and grammar, because the host struggles with this himself and does not see correct spelling and grammar as essential to the validity of a person's point of view,

- All "on topic" points of view are welcome, even if needing more factual support,

- Do not nitpick over small and non-essential details to create red herrings,

- Opinions may be expressed in terms of "I think" or "I feel" and will be welcome without personal assault, so long as I, and I alone, do not judge you to be mean to other commenters,

- Diversity of input to the topic is encouraged, and I hope I am not scarring people away by demanding strict adherence to what I consider very commonsense politeness,

- I am a liberal. While I may tolerate some politically incorrect speech, be careful. I reserve the right to reign you in. What I percieve as blatantly or intentionally racist, sexist, or homophobic may not fly, though I'll grant a wee little latitude if I can see where you are headed, or have no reason to believe your intentions are what I, and I alone, consider unacceptable,

- State your case and don't be evasive when directly asked an opinion question,

- Saying "I don't know" or "Let me look that up and get back to you" is an intellegent choice of words that please the host and might even please God,

- I welcome different ways of knowing than the rational technique of arguing, and also like to argue and debate according to the rules I am outlining,

- Logical fallacies identified by the Greek philosophers may be pointed out, and when accurately pointed out according to my final judgment, do not call for retaliation against the person who pointed it out,

- Democrats, Republicans, Independants, Green, liberal and conservative, and all parties are welcome.

- Some criticism of other ideologies than your own by you will be tolerated by the host if you can support your position as judged by the host,

- You must accept criticism of your own ideology charitably, whether it was given charitably or not,

- I am not particularly fond of the cyber-practice known as "fisking" (line-by-line analysis of a comment in quote and response format). I'll tolerate it usually without saying anything, but be aware it may set me on edge, or encourage me to do the same, even though nobody talks that way in real life. Use it judicially,

- Do not imply anyone commenting is stupid,

- You may refer to public figures who are not commenting as stupid if you believe it true or more charitable than the alternative explanations for their behavior,

- When a public figure who is not participating in this discussion is called stupid by a commenter, no other commenter is permitted to retaliate against that commenter because it might be true that the public figure has a low IQ. Instead, you are to ask for the evidence, and if it is supplied, shut up no matter how much you like the the person lacking intelligence, accept that the public figure might be stupid, and if you do not follow this rule, I will shut you up upon my own discretion,

- If making any sort of moral critique of any sort, focus on acts instead of persons,

- Avoid judging others and be merciful to those who admit being wrong,

- Treat all other commenters with the respect due to a human person possessing the incomparable dignity revealed in the incarnation event,

- Please, do feel free to appeal to textual support if you have it for your opinions, such as Vatican documents, the Bible, statements from bishops, etc... but don't overwhelm us, even if the host does that all the time, and accept the possibility of alternate interpretations than yours,

- If you've been away from the Church for decades and can't back your opinion up with texts, do not fear - I will help you,

- Follow your mothers rule, which is "Do as I say, not as I do" when it comes to the rules of the host,

- Finally, follow the golden rule, whether you think I do or not, and do not coment on my own consistency with this rule in the way I manage my blog no matter what you think.

I reserve the right to verbally swat you hard enough to emotionally hurt you if possible if you break my rules.

I reserve the right and have the technology to delete comments or ban people or even alter comments. I seldom have had to use it.

I reserve the sole right to be mean to mean spirited commentors if I choose to be without criticism.

Mind your P's and Q's and stick to the subject of the post to avoid punitive action.

On the flip side, if you are nice to me and each other, you can express whatever "on topic" opinion you wish with any choice of words you feel is effective - including curse words and expletives and images - so long as they very clearly are not directed at any person reading this blog by my own supreme judgment which is to be considered unquestionable and off limits to discussion in the comments.

I, and I alone, reserve sole right and privilege to judge who is following my own rules of discussion.

Do not accuse me, or even another commenter of breaking the rules either implicitly or explicitly.

If you're thinking ill of someone, don't say it, and try not to let it leak into your comments.

The judgment of who is following my rules belongs to me alone because this is my blog.

If I happen to be away from my PC while discussion gets heated from one individual, do not call it out.
Wait until I get back to my PC and let me decide who is being cruel, if anyone. And I may very well be away for hours on hours at a time. Tough. Wait it out, or I'll beat you up too (and delete your comments if I feel I should).

I am the judge and jury here - I am not God - but for the purposes of this blog close enough that if you wish to participate, you better do what I say.

Please pray for me that I act as a benevolent and humble dictator guided by the merciful and loving wisdom of God, but have no fear to show the tough love needed to foster justice and the life dialogue where creativity and dicovery and community can occur.